@Margaret Lyn-Soroken

Whether it’s a weekday morning or Saturday night, get going with this personalized mix of upbeat music. Refreshed every Monday.

Songs to help you relax and unwind. Updated every Sunday.

Discover new music from artists we think you'll like. Refreshed every Friday.

Welcome to The Works, our weekly playlist showcasing the latest and best classical albums, performed by some of the world’s finest artists and ensembles. This week’s track features Robert Schumann’s <i>Abegg Variations</i>, performed by pianist Anna Geniushene. “Abegg” refers to Schumann’s imaginary friend Meta Abegg, while the variation theme itself derives directly from her name: A–B (B-flat)–E–G–G. “From this theme, Schumann unfolds a set of variations that lead us through a very poetic and atmospheric journey,” Geniushene tells Apple Music Classical. The track is taken from Anna Geniushene’s upcoming album <i>Opus 1</i>, showcasing the first published works by a handful of composers. “This piece was written when Schumann was not yet 20 years old,” she says, “but it already reveals the burst of creativity and playfulness that would later become his hallmark. The variations introduce contrasting characters, from tender and melancholic to graceful, witty, and exuberant. They culminate in a ‘Finale alla Fantasia’ that already hints at the imaginative spirit of the mature Schumann.” Don’t forget that we regularly update The Works, so if you find a piece of music or a performance you particularly love, be sure to add it to your library.

When you’re listening to classical music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, it’s as though you’re in the concert hall, standing side by side with the conductor, awash in the magnificent sound of a full orchestra. It’s a three-dimensional listening experience, one in which every detail and every instrument feels clear and close—from the swell of a string section to a virtuosic wind solo to the thunder of timpani and every vibration of the hammer. Handpicked by our editors, this playlist brings that listening experience to life with a selection of known pieces as well as those you’ve maybe yet to discover.

Whispering sweet nothings over moody, minimalist pop, The xx strip down romance to its starkest form. James Blake captures a similar vibe, his skeletal soul facing the gravity of both love and sub-bass, while The Hundred In the Hands draw on the trio's dancier dream pop. Lorde then turns their seductive electro-pop into a warm, fizzy groove detailing the perils of fame on "Tennis Court.”

M83's colorful synthesis of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, shoegaze, and post-rock can be seen refracted in the magnetic tracks of their most talented colleagues. The synth walls and freedom cries of CHVRCHES (“The Mother We Share”) and Phoenix (“1901”) echo M83's pure joy, while Sigur Ros (“Glósóli”) and Washed Out (“Soft”) reflect their more pensive moods and their instrumental precision.

It's hard to name a modern musician whose work hasn't been influenced in some way by Brian Eno's sonic innovations. As a genre-bending songwriter and studio experimentalist, he's left a mark on everything from post-punk and indie rock to industrial music and hip-hop. With his pioneering electronic music style, high-profile collaborations (U2, David Bowie, Talking Heads), and invention of ambient music, Eno has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for inspiring dozens of artists and producers, including synth-pop bands, disco auteurs, IDM eccentrics, and new age stars.

Out of the ashes of Joy Division sprang New Order, whose formula for catchy post-punk and electronic dance tracks resulted in the band becoming one of the most acclaimed of the ‘80s. From synth-pop stars such as Hot Chip to moody groove outfits like Cold Cave and Chromatics, New Order's penchant for punk-flavored dance inspired numerous artists. The band's alternative rock influence is on display here as well, with Madchester pioneers The Stone Roses, anthem-loving indie superstars Arcade Fire, and many others checking in to pay tribute.

A whole wave of brooding indie rockers has been put under Beach House's reverb-rich spell. The duo's dizzying organ ambience floods Melody's Echo Chamber's chanteuse-charmed psych pop, and their glimmering guitar arpeggios lace Puro Instinct's sumptuous shoegaze. Even within their own home of Baltimore, bands like Wye Oak and Lower Dens brew up dreamy, dusky noise pop that's just as enticing.